First on that list must be to recognize one's epistemological framework (or for the simplified version: point of view) is unique to the individual and mitigate for any known bias. This should cultivate an ever-changing awareness of what one's knows with confidence, knows only with some caveats or limitations and does not really know.
Too often these days, I find fellow Americans who are not aware that they are either guessing or simply don't know. Everything that comes out of their best thought is presented as certain fact when it is far from it.
In short, faith (opinion) has trumped science (fact) in this culture and this fails often where the rubber meets the road. Faith or opinion has its place but not at the universal solution level. Proposing one's faith or opinion in lieu of facts is not only spiritual arrogance but it wipes out the objectivity so necessary to cultivate in critical thinking skills.
We have become increasingly self sufficient beyond the ordinary for not only how it saves money but avoids the hassle we increasingly get from professionals who are just flat out incompetent or should know better but attempt the rip off anyway.
We can sum up the reason we are not always so happy in this house with one simple observation: as customers and patients, we have repeatedly experienced unethical actions from professionals that have been shockingly shortsighted, costly, illegal and even life threatening. We find these to be sad times in America.
Reading product reviews is essential to being a responsible consumer, especially when buying higher-priced items. Seeing a large number of positive reviews does not guarantee I will buy a product. I usually check a sampling of negative reviews to check for unsuspected problems (but I am keenly aware that some people complain about trivial or barely relevant issues). Being a good citizen means giving back to society, so I take the time to leave thoughtful reviews whenever possible.
I just got one in the mail today and I certainly didn't apply for it. I panicked at first because how could something just send me a card I didn't apply for? That's how I came across this article. I guess at least I have the answer now as to why it came, but... the fact that it's not just a fake card or an advertisement for one is sort of terrifying.
Always, always, always! I think it's important to get some other people's perspectives on a product. You have to make sure that the product review you're reading isn't just something written to sell a product through affiliation, these can be pretty easy to spot sometimes though.
I really like customer reviews, I think that basing your purchasing decision around them can be pretty safe if you take the average. You have to keep in mind that everyone's different and they have different tastes though.
There are times when you are all willing to purchase the merchandize then the seller start to pressure you something like, please let me know if you want it or not, someone else is looking at it at 3:30 pm tomorrow! This to me is usually a bad sign. Sign of dishonest seller... I just simply say, sure! sell it to that person then! When I am selling anything on craigslist, I would never say that unless it is true! Yesterday, I walked away from purchasing something on craigslist because the seller mentioned someone else wanting the item when infact there were no one! When I told her to go a head and give it to the next person, she freaked out and called me a shady craigslist people... She was so upset that I walked away! And I knew my instinct was right! Never buy from people who plays tricks or games! It usually means there is something wrong with the merchandize! Seller who tries to manipulate sales by creating competition that is not there, is BAD one! If you buy into that, you will regret it!!!
since these free loaders don't pay, our taxes on our properties have gone up and up. I can not stand these people. why do I have to pay. They knew what they were doing getting in their houses. I have a small house and not in a great area, but that is what I can afford. don't live more than your means.
Absolutely! If we're buying online, there's not a good reason NOT to read the reviews. I've saved myself a lot of trouble, time, and money by paying attention. Now, if we're in the store, we're left to our own decision-making capabilities, which usually comes down to a quality vs. price issue.
REVIEW PRODUCTS..........OH YES! Let's say I'm looking for a vacuum. 1st. I check my needs, which would include price, vacuum suction and pet hair. 2nd. I'll check with friends and family members on their favorite vacuums. 3rd. I'll check Consumer's reports for the last few years of best vacuums. 4th. Next I do an Internet search on individual Vacuum companies and check out my specifications and ratings from their customers. 5th. With this amount of information I'll now check out Amazon and Ebay to see what their prices are for my top choices and will also produce more opinions from other customers. 6th. I'll check sales ads and watch Ebay and Amazon for a few days to a week and then buy the product that fits my criteria. One more thing, while checking Ebay and Amazon, always check if the sale includes warranty on the product you purchase, how good the ratings are for the seller and don't forget your gut feeling. Then after all that............cross your fingers!
Hi Aubrey, thanks for your thoughts!
Yes, I think the stand mixer is one of those things that's a must for some people and not so much for others. I know people who make it a priority to keep it on their counter and use it often, and others who never use it because it's stored away in a cabinet and weighs about a million pounds. It's just good to think twice about whether registering for something else would be more worthwhile.
I agree, I love my Le Creuset pots, and they should last a lifetime, though there is definitely less expensive enameled cast iron that does the job well.
Camilla
Absolutely I read reviews. I'll read them on Amazon, the manufacturer's website, or on any of the many aggregate shopping sites like MySimon and such. The negative reviews are particularly interesting but sometimes are biased or the reviewer is uninformed of the capabilities of the product. I try to find a reviewer, and will even search the reviews to find a review, that has used my exact model or used it in the way I would use it. You have to be careful of reviews that are overly positive or have only just started using the product. I always look to see if the site can choose to not post a review if they don't like it.
I like to read reviews on Amazon and usually Google an item to see what comes up. There have been things I have purchased that got decent reviews but I wasn't happy with the product. The best scenario is a personal recommendation from someone you know or trust combined with great online reviews. Now that usually makes for a great product.
I always read product reviews. I always use various sites to get a good idea and I take the highest and lowest ratings with a grain of salt when making my decisions.
So we should pay down $100 in debt this week by taking out more debt? Talk about rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic...
This was very helpful (thank you) AND your curtains are quite lovely. I especially like how light diffuses through the fabric. Well done!
First on that list must be to recognize one's epistemological framework (or for the simplified version: point of view) is unique to the individual and mitigate for any known bias. This should cultivate an ever-changing awareness of what one's knows with confidence, knows only with some caveats or limitations and does not really know.
Too often these days, I find fellow Americans who are not aware that they are either guessing or simply don't know. Everything that comes out of their best thought is presented as certain fact when it is far from it.
In short, faith (opinion) has trumped science (fact) in this culture and this fails often where the rubber meets the road. Faith or opinion has its place but not at the universal solution level. Proposing one's faith or opinion in lieu of facts is not only spiritual arrogance but it wipes out the objectivity so necessary to cultivate in critical thinking skills.
We have become increasingly self sufficient beyond the ordinary for not only how it saves money but avoids the hassle we increasingly get from professionals who are just flat out incompetent or should know better but attempt the rip off anyway.
We can sum up the reason we are not always so happy in this house with one simple observation: as customers and patients, we have repeatedly experienced unethical actions from professionals that have been shockingly shortsighted, costly, illegal and even life threatening. We find these to be sad times in America.
Reading product reviews is essential to being a responsible consumer, especially when buying higher-priced items. Seeing a large number of positive reviews does not guarantee I will buy a product. I usually check a sampling of negative reviews to check for unsuspected problems (but I am keenly aware that some people complain about trivial or barely relevant issues). Being a good citizen means giving back to society, so I take the time to leave thoughtful reviews whenever possible.
I just got one in the mail today and I certainly didn't apply for it. I panicked at first because how could something just send me a card I didn't apply for? That's how I came across this article. I guess at least I have the answer now as to why it came, but... the fact that it's not just a fake card or an advertisement for one is sort of terrifying.
Always, always, always! I think it's important to get some other people's perspectives on a product. You have to make sure that the product review you're reading isn't just something written to sell a product through affiliation, these can be pretty easy to spot sometimes though.
I really like customer reviews, I think that basing your purchasing decision around them can be pretty safe if you take the average. You have to keep in mind that everyone's different and they have different tastes though.
I wish I could like this post a billion times!
There are times when you are all willing to purchase the merchandize then the seller start to pressure you something like, please let me know if you want it or not, someone else is looking at it at 3:30 pm tomorrow! This to me is usually a bad sign. Sign of dishonest seller... I just simply say, sure! sell it to that person then! When I am selling anything on craigslist, I would never say that unless it is true! Yesterday, I walked away from purchasing something on craigslist because the seller mentioned someone else wanting the item when infact there were no one! When I told her to go a head and give it to the next person, she freaked out and called me a shady craigslist people... She was so upset that I walked away! And I knew my instinct was right! Never buy from people who plays tricks or games! It usually means there is something wrong with the merchandize! Seller who tries to manipulate sales by creating competition that is not there, is BAD one! If you buy into that, you will regret it!!!
since these free loaders don't pay, our taxes on our properties have gone up and up. I can not stand these people. why do I have to pay. They knew what they were doing getting in their houses. I have a small house and not in a great area, but that is what I can afford. don't live more than your means.
yes, for major purchases
Absolutely! If we're buying online, there's not a good reason NOT to read the reviews. I've saved myself a lot of trouble, time, and money by paying attention. Now, if we're in the store, we're left to our own decision-making capabilities, which usually comes down to a quality vs. price issue.
REVIEW PRODUCTS..........OH YES! Let's say I'm looking for a vacuum. 1st. I check my needs, which would include price, vacuum suction and pet hair. 2nd. I'll check with friends and family members on their favorite vacuums. 3rd. I'll check Consumer's reports for the last few years of best vacuums. 4th. Next I do an Internet search on individual Vacuum companies and check out my specifications and ratings from their customers. 5th. With this amount of information I'll now check out Amazon and Ebay to see what their prices are for my top choices and will also produce more opinions from other customers. 6th. I'll check sales ads and watch Ebay and Amazon for a few days to a week and then buy the product that fits my criteria. One more thing, while checking Ebay and Amazon, always check if the sale includes warranty on the product you purchase, how good the ratings are for the seller and don't forget your gut feeling. Then after all that............cross your fingers!
Hi Aubrey, thanks for your thoughts!
Yes, I think the stand mixer is one of those things that's a must for some people and not so much for others. I know people who make it a priority to keep it on their counter and use it often, and others who never use it because it's stored away in a cabinet and weighs about a million pounds. It's just good to think twice about whether registering for something else would be more worthwhile.
I agree, I love my Le Creuset pots, and they should last a lifetime, though there is definitely less expensive enameled cast iron that does the job well.
Camilla
I always read reviews to try and keep from buying sometthing of lower quality than I need.
Absolutely I read reviews. I'll read them on Amazon, the manufacturer's website, or on any of the many aggregate shopping sites like MySimon and such. The negative reviews are particularly interesting but sometimes are biased or the reviewer is uninformed of the capabilities of the product. I try to find a reviewer, and will even search the reviews to find a review, that has used my exact model or used it in the way I would use it. You have to be careful of reviews that are overly positive or have only just started using the product. I always look to see if the site can choose to not post a review if they don't like it.
I like to read reviews on Amazon and usually Google an item to see what comes up. There have been things I have purchased that got decent reviews but I wasn't happy with the product. The best scenario is a personal recommendation from someone you know or trust combined with great online reviews. Now that usually makes for a great product.
Great recipe! I get the sense the Pioneer Woman likes her meat too. If she can do vegetarian once in a while, there's hope for all of us:-)
I most always read product reviews before deciding whether or not to purchase something
Usually I do.
Definitely, and my favorite place to read and contribute reviews is on Amazon.
I always read product reviews. I always use various sites to get a good idea and I take the highest and lowest ratings with a grain of salt when making my decisions.
Great list! The absolute best thing I registered for were my All-clad pots and pans. Ten years later they still shine!
I usually read reviews, it really depends on the item.